Library/17th Century/Michael Maier, Symbola aureae mensae duodecim nationum (1617)
| Library — Texts on Paracelsus 17th Century |
| Michael Maier, Symbola aureae mensae duodecim nationum |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Michael Maier: Symbola aureae mensae duodecim nationum, , p. 277-289 |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1708 |
| VD17: | VD17 23:291341V |
| Digital copies: | Google Books (yNBQAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA277) Google Books (DHhaAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA277) Google Books (87sQCxPqwrgC&pg=PA277) Google Books (t_8U09S5AJ8C&pg=PA277) Google Books (y3dVAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA277) |
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[p. 277] Philippvs Theophrastvs Paracelsvs, cuius nomen adeo increbuit hoc nostro seculo, vt non solum lippis & tonsoribus, quod dici solet, sed etiam Empyricis, circulatoribus, Alchymistis deceptoribus, cerdonibus, fabris & operariis plerisque, ne dicam pharmacarios & medicos, præsertim Germaniæ, innotuerit: Hunc virum, qui [p. 278] multum reconditæ doctrinæ præ cæteris habuit, propter duo inprimis, nullis laudibus à multis doctis extolli video,
primò quod nomen suum (quod est Philippus Bombastus) abiecerit, sibique alia pomposa & magis splendida (sed fictitia) assumpserit; quod indicium quidem est magni spiritus, at paruæ humilitatis:
Secundò, quod Germanice scribendo popularem auram sitiens sese monarcham vocet, cæterosque medicos, sui non sequaces, volitare vt vmbras & esse leuiores alga, æstimet, quos conuitiis longis & verbosis, instaranus ad iram incitatæ, proscindit.
Præterea magna pars doctiorum, etiam Chemiæ amantium, ipsi detrahunt perfectam artis Hermeticæ scientiam, quibus indiciis, de iis mox agemus:
Quartò iidem in eius scurrilem vitam, pluribus inquinatam vitiis, animaduertunt, eamque non convenire vero philosopho adfirmant: De hisce quatuor singulatim disseremus sic, vt veritati non fiat iniuria & pro bene meritis gratitudo sit in promptu:
De primo: Constat eum natum in Heluetiâ nobili familia, cuius pater quidam à Bombast mater ab Hohenheim extitit: Hinc ille occasionem captauit, vt sese Paracelsum de nouo baptizaret, quasi hoc æquiualeat Hohenheimio; Hohen, altum vel celsum significat, heim, patriam seu terram habitationis cuiusdam: Para autem, græca dictio, nil tale denotat, sed in vocabulis, Parasitus, Paraphenisis, Parerga, parabola & similibus, eius vsus apparet; vbi semper contrarietatem alteri inducit, in moribus, mente, operibus & verbis: Et sic, Paracelsus, est græca & latina dictio composita, tanquam Græcia & Latium in Germaniam conuenirent: Theophrastum se appellat à Græco illo antiquo Aristotelis discipulo, cui (veluti quoque narrant de Platone) in cunis iacenti examen [p. 279] apum mel in os ingessit, eo augurio, quod dulcissimus & diuinus eloquio futurus esset, quod & accidit, ideoque ipse Theophrasti, quasi diuina loquentis, nomen vulgo meruit: Ille est generosus sui præceptoris Aristotelis Equus, quem freno indigere, alios calcaribus, dixit; qui scholam Peripatheticam propagauit sibi ab Aristotele testamento concessam, qui historiam vegetabilium & terræ fossilium valdè memorabilem edidit: An iam noster Bombastus eiusdem cum eo ominis fuerit, cum nominis voluerit, mihi ignotum est: Dicamus hunc esse diuiniloquum, at non in Latina, nec Græcanica lingua: In materna itaque ac vernacula, Heluetica, quæ multis non adeo polita auditur: Sed respondeo pro Theophrasto, quod respiciendum sit ad res, & non ad linguam: Si res sint diuinæ, quas tractauit; sufficit, si non diuino eloquio protulerit eas: Aureolum quoque se æstimauit, fortè propter eius artis scientiam, vel etiam ob doctrinam diuinam; Diuina enim & aurea in maximo sunt censu, illa cœlestium, hæc terrestrium, summa: Deauratus itaque est, diuiniloquus & ex transcendentibus supra communem hominis naturam seu captum: Vnde non immerito illo nomine gaudere debuit: Et fuit illi licitum nomen mutare, cum id factum sit absque alterius præiudicio, præsertim si id fiat cum eius bono aut honore: Causam eius facti alij non in arrogantiam, sed in nouæ doctrinaæe, quam ipse prolaturus erat, commendationem transferre possunt;
De Secundo: Germanice scripsit, quia Germanus, fortè in gentis suæ honorem & quod alijs nationibus muiderit thesaurus suæ eruditionis: Popularis auræ an sitibundus extiterit, ignoro, sane superbus non fuit, qui potius habitu Heluetici militis, quam tanti Doctoris [p. 280] togâ incessit, Cur cæteros medicos omnes calumnietur & eludat, causa est, quia Monarcha fieri non poterat, nisi regibus, inter quod Hippocrates & Galenus, principibus, inter quos Auicenna, & populis, hoc est medicis practicis, sibi subiectus: Vnicum enim nemus non alit duos erithacos, nec vnus mundus nisi vnum solem: Sic vna terra, non nisi virum Monarcham; At mittamus Reges Regum & verè Monarchas dictos, & literarium monarcham, quam absque dubio se facit & intelligit, prosequamur: Quidni & hoc nomen ipsi conveniat præsertim in Medicina? Quotquot enim sunt doctrinæ genera, quot manualium artium species tot Monarchas constituere licet, singulos in singulis speciebus; etiamsi hac ratione supra mille numero fierent: Verum sic est dispositum cum natura humana post lapsum primotum parentum, quod lubens diuinitatem, summos honores & magna imperia obtineret præ aliis: Hinc Seneca recte: Regis quisque animum in se habet, vt sibi in alium, quam in se alteri, dari malit imperium. Hinc quilibet se monarcham faceret, si ab arbitrio cuiusque penderet: Cuiusdam papæ astutia memoratur, ad quem vnum cum vota eligentium Cardinalium concurrerent, vt ipse mitram papalem & pallium acciperet traderetque illi ex omnibus, qui doctrina, meritis, & aliis dotibus præualeret, dignissimusque foret, vt Papa fieret, ille seipsum habitu Papali mox insigniuit, quem sese, (reliquos non) optimè nosse affirmauit. Sic noster Theophrastus se Monarcham appelauit, dum potuit & licuit, etsi multis ipsi invidentibus tantum titulum & nomen non absque causa: Quia in Galenum, eiusque in doctrina medica sequaces, acerrime inuehitur, nunc onagros, lapides molares aut ignominiosius eos vocitans. Sed aliter Theophrastus facere non potuit duas ob rationes; Primò propter inuidiam & calumnias, quas illi [p. 281] medici huic Heluetico Theophrasto in medicinis experientissimo, inque curationibus felicissimo intentarunt: Secundo, non potuit semen melioris medicinæ in agrum seu mentem discentium seminare, nisi prius à gramine & lolio terram arando, vertendo, lyrando, occando & quasi innouando præparasset: Obiurgatio, criminatio & comminatio itaque Theophrasti, quas medicis intendit, nihil aliud sunt quam aratio, versatio, lyratio, occatio illorum aurium durarum & voluntatis iniquæ, in quas novam medicinam inspergere appetit: Si quis pro lignea domo marmoream construere velit, annon hic opus habet, vt ligneam à fundamento vsque prius destruat, & deinde marmoream ponat? Stratonicus insignis cytharœdus duplicem mercedem postulauit ab iis discipulis, qui iam prius in ea arte ab aliis erant (sed perperam) instructi, nempe vnam pro dedocendo, quæ mala didicerant alteram pro docendo meliora progymnasmata: Sic Theophrastus in destruendo & dedocendo incongrua non minus laboris habuisse videtur, quàm in construendo & docendo magis conventientia medica: Sed nos quoad medicinalia eius hic arbitrium nullum statuemus, eaque cuique liberè diiudicanda relinquimus: Verum, vt veritas patefiat, Bernhardi Penoti, senis emeriti iudicium, forte non temerariu, nec nimis calidum, in tanta ætate, audiatur: Hic in libro suo denario medico Paracelsum plagii maximi accusat:
Tria, inquit, illa principia mercurii, sulfuris & salis eum à verbo ad verbum ex opere vegetabili Isaaci Hollandi desumpsisse, sic & doctrinam de separatione quatuor elementorum: De gradationibus medicinarum, ab Arnoldo: Archidoxa à Raymundo Lullio ex sua arte operatiua: De arcanis à Rupescissa: Nihil prorsus à se ipso, præterquam vitia & maledicta: Synonima, quibus vtitur à doctissimo domino Garlando Anglo tenet: A Trithemio varia: Si quis [p. 282] attentè Arnoldum[c1] legerit & Raymundum[c2] in arte operatiua, animadvertet Paracelsum istorum virorum truncâsse & sibi vendicasse scripta: Legite Landfrancum, animadvertetis Paracelsum ab eodem suam Chirurgiam desumpsisse: Cur non citat Arnoldum capite de Paralysi, de Galbaneto suo, descripto libro de morbis Tartareis? Plura alia sunt, quæ doctis viris relinquo investiganda: Pertæsus vitæ præsentis aperio vobis studiosis viam, qua poteritis ad meliora & faciliora peruenire, & alium Eliam artistam expectare nolite, præter Isaaci Hollandi opera. Hactenus Penotus.
Hæc an ita se habeant, quilibet ipse dispiciat & investiget. Alii hoc si ita sit, vituperabunt institutum, Paracelsumque Auctoritate sua in cuius possessione, temporis præscriptione diuturna extitit, tanquam senes de ponte deturbabunt: At nos id factum, nisi sit dubium & illi falsò imputatum, excusari, in tanti viri honorem, posse opinamur: Hippias Socratis discipulus, cum aliquamdiu eum audiuisset, per aliquot annos peregrinatus, post rediens Socratem eadem legentem & tractantem miratus est, cui sapiens senex, Ego, inquit, eadem de iisdem sentio, & dico: quasi innueret, esse vnam veritatem in rebus naturæ, quæ nouitatem aut diuersitatem non admittat: Idque verissimum est: Quod si itaque in rei veritate Paracelsus consentiat iam cum vno circa vnam materiam, iam cum alio circa aliam, eamque sibi applicet (cum veritas vt palma in medio posita sit, arripiat, qui potest) annon rectè fecisse statuetur? Hoc enim indubitatum est, non vni Deum omnia dedisse, & veritatem esse opertam sub densis tegminibus opinionum & vanitatum, pro quibus vix respirare, nec lucem adire queat. Quod si sic, quærenda bona, vbi inuenienda, & veritas omnibus angulis inuestiganda: Non rarò & mo- [p. 283] litor est opportuna loquutus: Imitanda est veritatis investigatori diligens apicula, quæ non reperit mel in vno loco frustratim, at ex millies millibus flosculis congerit in vnum fauum, vnde fit mel & cera; idque laudi cuique ducitur non immerito: Cur igitur Theophrasto[c3] hoc sit dedecori, quod ab aliis mutuatus sit, quo multis sequentibns prodesse potuit?
De Tertio: Sunt, qui illi in medicinâ, præsertim chirurgiâ multum tribuant, prout reuera meritus dicitur, at in verâ Chemiâ ne tantillum, iique vtuntur his rationibus; primo, quia ipse Chemiam multis in locis suorum scriptorum eludit, dicitque Chymicos insanos triturare stramen inane: Secundo, quia præcipui eius discipuli nullo fœlici in Chymicis successu vsi sint; Duo magis non sint pro exemplo vnus ipsi semper, dum esset Basileæ familiarissimus adfuit professione Theologus, at Chemiæ non minus deditus, homo quatuor literarum, nempe A. B. C. D. qui post mortem Paracelsi libros in Valle Oeni quæsiuit in cauis arboribus & inuentos, vt aiebat, domum retulit; quos vendidit magnâ pecuniæ summâ; at quia forte subreptitii ac ficti fuerant, cum effectus promissis non responderet, precium à venditore recuperatum eique liber nugatorius restitutus est: Alter à Paracelsi doctrinâ vnicè pendens, scripsit tractatum de Antimonio geminum; quò tandem post aliquot annorum errores frustraneos fatetur, Chemiam esse longè alia intentione scriptum, quàm aurificii; simulq; inuehitur in Lullium aliosq;, adducens præceptoris Paracelsi testimonia, quod ille irriserit Chymicos Chrysopœos quasi hæc ars sit naturæ & Deo aduersa: Quod si itaq; tantus Paracelsi discipulus, qui præceptorem suum spiritui stylo & inue- [p. 284] hendi in alios modo non mentitur sed artificiosè exprimit, à Chemia fit transfuga eam negando, auctoritateque Paracelsica ad hoc vtendo, quis alius ex discipulis demonstrabit, Paracelsum eius artis veram cognitionem habuisse? Tertiò, quia Chymiæ effectus vtiles si sensit, valde arcanus in his extitit: Vnus ipsi famulus, nomine Franciscus, attestatus est, se præsente ab eo proiectionem factam in paucos lotones argenti viui, quod conuersum puluere quodam in aurum, hoc aurifabro venditum esse: Sterzingæ in alpibus tempore pestis de hac lue tractatulum edidit, dedicatum ibidem senatui, quod forte non tam lucri, quàm commiserationis gratia fecit: De Regulo sui antimonii gloriose prædicat, quod nec Carolus nec Leo Romanus, eum æquiualente precio compensare valeat: De opibus eius, quantæ istæ fuerint post mortem pauperibus Salzburgi erogatæ, nil memorabile auditum est: Quartò, quamuis libros de aurificio scripserit, qui auide leguntur ab eius discipulis aut suffraganeis, adeò vt in his solis ætatem & fortunam suam quamplurimi consumant nec confidant aliorum philosophorum scriptis, tamen hoc facile tot extantibus Chymicorum libris, in quibus diu studuit, effectum dare potuit, vt etiam in hac scientia quid sciuisse videretur Sed nos singulis hisce rationibus pro Paracelso respondebimus: Primò eludit Chemiam in loco & tempore, eamque extollit iisdem consideratis circumstantiis: Qui puellam pulchram ac diuitem amant secrete, non de ea omnia, vt se habent, nisi insani sint, aliis produnt, forte inuidis aut riualibus futuris: Nil tutum est in amore, nec in Chemiâ: Hoc satis est causæ, cur aliquando visus sit eius artifices elusisse aut ipsam artem in dubium vocasse:
Secundò, si verus fuit philosophus, discipulos ex obligatione non agnouit: Si ex gratia, cur aperiret alteri artem per tot labores quæsitam? Quod author libri de antimonio [p. 285] votum suum non compleuerit, ipse ridendus est, qui vnam saltem viam in vna materia tractanda elegit, qua cum ire non potuit, alias in eadem neglexit non solum, sed nec in vlla alia tentauit: Cum vero materiæ sint centenæ fere, mirum est, quod propter vnam voto non correspondentem, alias omnes præterierit: Frustranei operatores sunt plures, quam recenseri possint, inter quos si & ipse inueniatur, nihil ipsi contigit noui.
Tertiò, nihil refert, si effectus Chemiæ publice non ostentarit: Nec enim id fecerunt alij artifices, nec ad quid prodest, nisi vt quis multis negotijs se implicet, vnde se vix vnquam extricare possit: Nimium fuit, Paracelsum, vidente illo Francisco, vnum edidisse specimen proiectionis: Regulum adeo preciosum æstimauit antimonij philosophici, quod non omnibus notum est: Eius Regulus auro longe præualet: De facultatibus eius relictis quis iudicabit? fuisse tamen eius valoris, vt Epitaphio asscribi meruerint, verisimile est? Quarto, libros, quos scripsit in Chemia, plurimi exosculantur, putantque in ijs veritatem nudam iacere sepultam, quæ Vulcani opera eruenda sit, prout in cæteris medicinalibus multa præclara & veracissima tradidit: Si enim, ratiocinantur, veridicus fuit in medicamentis, in hac arte non inuenietur mendax: At illi considerare deberent subiecti diuersitatem, item finis, & effectuum, & tum scripsisse eum more philosophico, ex necessitate, intelligerent.
De Quartò Vitam eius cælibem & vagam fuisse constat, si non absque næuis, tamen sine magnis sceleribus: Potare & pergræcariab Hespero ad Auroram ipsa Socrates sapientissimus & tèmperantiæ nomine celoberrimus interdum non detrectauit, ac nihilominus summo manè problema aliquod Geometricum ad ingenij acumen & robur probandum euoluit & explicauit: Hoc vitium nullo pallio tegendum nec [p. 286] vlla exceptione Germanis excusandum est, qui pocula sitis cumulant cum sanitatis, hæc cum iucunditatis, & hæc iterum in amicitiam, illa in ebrietatem mutuo sibi propinant: Vtinam in Philothesio meta consisteret: Illa in sanitatem alienam infusa, sæpissimè propriam labefactarunt suis visceribus: At mos gentis præualens, tyrannus est, nec vitari potest, licet culpari: Video meliora, proboque, inquit Medea, deteriora sequor: Theophrastus itaque humani, aut patrij moris, nihil alienum à se putans, mundo se accommodauit, & quia vestium ornatum & pompam flocci fecisse traditur, cum similis habitus socijs popinas, tabernasque ingressus est, genio indulgens, frontem exporrigens & ventrem Cerere & Lyæo muniens ad satietatem: Hoc vitæ instituto etiamsi vteretur, tamen in medicina morbos alijs incurabiles, nempecancrum, lepram, hydropem, paralysin, podagram & id genus alios fælicissimè curauit & sustulit medicamentis appropriatis & efficacissimis, quorum permulta in scriptis suis reliquit; at nullus eius discipulorum, quod scimus, hoc curandi fastigium attigit: Vnde coniectandum, ipsum non sine magni illius medicaminis ope quicquam ardui præstitisse, quod cum rarissimum contingat eius sequacibus, ita & auxilium medicit ale inefficacius ijsdem celebratur. Eius libri, si à calumnijs omnibus, tanquam boni & fertiles agri à carduis, purgarentur, opus absque dubio efficerent lectu non indignum, in quo multa medicis & chirurgis non reijcienda continerentur: Inimicitias lethales, amicitias perennes esse oportet: Illæ iugulandæ, hæ custodiendæ & ad vitæ hominum commoditatem, conseruandæ sunt: Antiquitus ex plaustris conuitia inuicem dicebant, sed hæc, vt aura inanis, iampridem perierunt: Quæ vero ex volu- [p. 287] minibus librorum sparguntur in vulgus, manent cum libris, vt libri cum hominibus: Quicunque legunt calumnias eius indulcoratas melle medicato, hoc est, medicinis iucundis & expertis, eas in vtramque aurem & mentem imbibunt: Hinc odia ægrorum in medicos doctos, existimationis diminutio apud vulgum, & ipsorum medicorum altercutiones aniles, dissensiones & apertæ inimicitiæ: Illud, inquam, pomum Eridos inde remouendum & Vulcano consecrandum esset: Sunt inter dogmaticos doctissimi viri, qui iampridem tota sua armamentaria implorarunt ad opprimendam istam hydram, quæ multiplicatis capitibus post vnius abscissionem augetur; quod si veneno spolietur & tolerabilis esset & morigera magis: Ab altera parte & viri docti inueniuntur (qui Galeno nomen non dederint) & magna pars idioticæiniquitatis? Eruditi sua laude, vt dignissimi, sic reliqui econtra censendi sunt: Horum quidam longam næniam finxit de Theophrasto, adductis falsis testimonijs & multis apertissrmis mendacijs, quæ lectu ac auditu indigna sunt, ad stabiliendam saltem Paracelsicorum authoritatem: De qua loquor, epistola cum Italico nomine Latinè annexa est Iohannis de Padua operi Chymico & Trithemij epistolæ Chymicæ, in quarto per se prius edito: Insuper interpretes quidam eius operum videntur quædam sub Paracelsi nomine sæpe edidisse, quæ ipse viuus non agnosceret pro suis: Multi Thyrsigeri, pauci Dionysij: Et aliter canes, aliter sues olent: Plagium est alijs furari libros, non minus, quam liberos, at dolus, alteri subijcere: Verum meum non est virgulam Censoriam latius stringere: Sint alij, qui hoc obeliscis notent & Theta illis debita: Theophrastum Paracelsum virum eruditum & multa expertum in [p. 288] chirurgicis & medicis, quatenus absque calumnijs incedit, magnifacio; si cum illis & Monarchia stipatus, non audiendum puto; Noua enim medicamenta non faciunt nouam Medicinam seu artem, vt nec noua instrumenta auri fabrorum, eorum artem aliam, quam prius fuit, efficere possunt; Mutuo quædam pharmaca si accepit ab alijs, siue ipse inuenerit, illa congerat in gremium pharmaceuticæ, quæ vna est ex multis Medicæ artis partibus: Quod si cœlestem aliquem curandi modum certissimè cognouerit, ab occultis rerum proprietatibus, quas ab astris & cœlo dependere non dubitamus, profectum vel deductum, si sit absque alicuius mali suspicione, inque medium sine bile proposuerit, lubentes admittimus & amplectimur: Verum cum animaduertamus huic Paracelso testimonium ab hactenus incognitis præter omnem expectationem dari, hoc est, à quibusdam qui artis Chymicæ peritissimi, Encyclopædia omni, rerumque admirabilium & homini maximè vtilium verâ, vt narrant, praxi, instructissimi, Medicinæ occultarum & astralium proprietatum (quas quartas vocamus) professionem faciunt, omnesque morbos, qui non fato diuino lethales sunt, in quos incidunt, gratis curant, medijsque naturalibus, mirificis tamen & probatissimis, breuissimo tempore tollunt & profligant, eo magis ipsi fidem & authoritatem in arcanis Chymicis & medicinalibus concedimus: Cum vero antehac diuersorum collegiorum philosophicorum solennitatumque antiquitus ab artis Chymicæ gnaris institutarum meminerimus, quid mirum, si huiusmodi in natione Germanica populosissima, inque totgentes & regiones diuisa olim hunc vsque contigerit? Nam vt artifices veri, qui ex propria inuentione vel alterius communicatione finem [p. 289] artis consecuti sunt, Deo votum pietatis, hominibus officium humanitatis & commiserationem dicant & præstant, ita licet silentium & inuidiam contra indignos obtineant, tamen spectantes plurima commoda, bona opera, & eleemosynas, quæ ex hac arte diutissimè continuâ succedentium serie secretissimè conseruatâ, prouenirent, fuere, vt est rationabile, qui in modum aliaque media hanc ad rem necessaria cogitationes suas direxerint & in effectum deduxerint Si enim desiderabile est homini, in hac valle tristitiæ, naturæ ductu liberos relinquere, qui eosdem fortunæ casus, quos ipsi parentes, re ipsa experiantur, non raro ad miserabiles exitus ob perpetrata enormia facinora destinentur, quidni & inter philosophos omnis æui, tanti numeri, vnus inueniatur, quiarcanissimam artis propagationem in sua gente ad Dei laudem & innumerorum vtilitatem, in se suscipiat & pertendat? Hoc iampridem vsu venisse, adeo vulgatum est, vt nil vulgatius esse possit: Ne itaque & nos, post principia, nimis diu increduli remaneamus, constituimus Lavdabilem Illam Societatem Germanicam, Qvotqvot Et Vbi Lateant Apvd Vivos, Ad Hanc Nostram Mensam, Avream Dictam Ob Avratos Convivas, inuitare, conuocare & adducere, si modo vulgaribus sint contenti missibus, (coquus enim certè dum in hac præparatione tota occupatus fuit, quartano hoste nunc frigidum nunc calidum expirante agitatus lautiores vobis epulas apponere nequit) quos hic solos offerimus.
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First, because he rejected his name (which is Philippus Bombastus) and assumed other pompous and more splendid (but fictitious) ones, which is indeed an indication of great spirit but little humility.
Second, because he calls himself a monarch thirsty for popularity by writing in German and thinks that other doctors, who do not follow him, fly like shadows and are lighter than seaweed, whom he incites to anger with long and verbose insults.
Moreover, a large part of the learned, even those who love Chemistry, detract from his perfect knowledge of the Hermetic art, which we will discuss shortly with evidence.
Fourthly, the same people notice many vices in his scurrilous life and affirm that it is not suitable for a true philosopher. We will discuss each of these four in such a way that truth is not harmed and gratitude is readily given for good merits.
Regarding the first point: It is known that he was born into a noble family in Switzerland, and his father was from the Bombast family, while his mother was from the Hohenheim family. He took this opportunity to baptize himself again as Paracelsus, as if it were equivalent to Hohenheim. "Hohen" means tall or high, while "heim" means the homeland or the land of residence of someone. "Para" does not have a similar meaning in Greek, but in words such as "parasite", "paraphenesis", "parerga", "parabola", and similar ones, it appears to indicate opposition to something else, in morals, mind, works, and words. And so, "Paracelsus" is a composite of Greek and Latin words, as if Greece and Rome had come together in Germany. He calls himself Theophrastus after that ancient Greek disciple of Aristotle, to whom (as they also say about Plato) honey was fed in his mouth when he was lying in his cradle, as a sign that he would have a sweet and divine eloquence, which came true. Therefore, he deserved the name of Theophrastus, as if he were a divine speaker. He is the noble horse of his teacher Aristotle, who said that he needed a bit and others spurs; he propagated the Peripatetic school granted to him by Aristotle's will and wrote a very memorable history of plants and fossils. Whether our Bombastus had any connection to Aristotle, or why he chose that name, is unknown to me. Let us say that he was a divine speaker, but not in Latin or Greek, but in his mother tongue and vernacular, which is often not so polished. But I answer for Theophrastus that we should look at the substance, not the language. If the things he dealt with were divine, it is sufficient that he did not express them in a divine eloquence. He also esteemed himself as "golden," perhaps because of his knowledge of the art or even because of divine doctrine. Divine and golden things are of the highest value; the former of celestial things, the latter of terrestrial things. He was therefore gilded, a divine speaker, and transcendent above the common nature or understanding of man. He deserved to enjoy that name rightfully, and it was permissible for him to change his name, provided it was done without prejudice to others, especially if it was done for his own good or honor. Others can attribute the reason for this action not to arrogance, but to the promotion of a new doctrine that he was about to bring forward.
Second: He wrote in German, perhaps to honor his own people and to share the treasure of his knowledge with other nations. I do not know whether he was popular or thirsty for fame, but he was certainly not arrogant. He wore the attire of a Swiss soldier rather than the robe of a great doctor. The reason he criticizes and mocks all the other physicians is because he could not become a monarch, except among kings - Hippocrates and Galen - and princes - Avicenna - and subjects - that is, practicing physicians. For just as one forest cannot sustain two squirrels, and one world has only one sun, so one land has only one monarch. Let us leave the kings of kings and the true monarchs aside and pursue the literary monarch, which he undoubtedly made and understood himself. Why should this name not suit him, especially in medicine? For as many kinds of knowledge there are, as many kinds of manual arts, so many monarchs can be established, each in their own kind; even if they were to number over a thousand in this way. But it is so arranged in human nature after the fall of our first parents that we willingly seek divinity, highest honors, and great power over others. Hence Seneca rightly said: Everyone has the mind of a king in himself, so that he prefers to rule himself rather than be subject to someone else's rule. Anyone could make himself a monarch if it depended on everyone's whim. The cunning of a certain pope is recounted, to whom the votes of the cardinals who had gathered went, so that he could receive the papal mitre and pallium and then hand them over to the one who was most worthy of all in learning, merit, and other gifts, to become Pope. He immediately adorned himself with the papal attire, claiming that he knew himself better than anyone else did (not the others). Similarly, our Theophrastus called himself a monarch while he could and was allowed to, although many envious people found fault with only the title and name without cause. Because he fiercely attacks Galen and his followers in medical doctrine, now calling them wild donkeys, millstones, or even worse names. But Theophrastus could not do otherwise for two reasons: first, because of the envy and slander that experienced doctors aimed at this Theophrastus from Helvetia, who was most experienced in medicine and most successful in treatments; second, he could not sow the seed of better medicine in the field or mind of his students until he had first prepared the soil by plowing, turning, harrowing, hoeing, and renewing it from grass and weeds. Therefore, Theophrastus' rebuke, accusation, and threat against the doctors are nothing but the plowing, turning, harrowing, and hoeing of their hard ears and wicked wills, into which he desires to sprinkle new medicine. If anyone wants to build a marble house instead of a wooden one, does he not need to first destroy the wooden one from the foundation and then lay the marble one? The famous harpist Stratonicus demanded a double reward from those students who had already been (incorrectly) instructed by others in his art, namely one for unlearning what they had learned poorly and another for teaching them better exercises. So Theophrastus seems to have had no less labor in destroying and unlearning the incongruous than in constructing and teaching the more appropriate medicine. But as far as his medicine is concerned, we make no judgment here and leave it to each person to judge freely. But in order for the truth to be revealed, the judgment of Bernhard Penot, an experienced old man, may be listened to, not rash nor too passionate, at such an age: Here in his book "Denarius Medico", he accuses Paracelsus of the greatest plagiarism.
